St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1887-07-02
NEW THINGS IN TOYS.


Ase3ee Ingenuity Leading the OlA Woel1
b Oddities aaA Novelties.
Tho European toy-maker is being
rapidly suPplanted by the American
manufacturer. New York has become
the great distributing point for toys.
out the ingenious Yankees Of Connect
cut make most of them. New York
children. too. buy more expensive play
things than those Of any other city. but
Philadelphia juveniles use more in pro-
portion to the population. The head OF
large wholesale house for the sale Of
children's goods states that recently he
shipped five hundred gross Of toy pistols
to Bombay for sale among the children
OF India. Alarge consignment Of play
things was sent not very long ago to
South Africa Toy pistols and tin horses
hitched to red wagons are the favorite
articles with the South Africans. Some
Of these toys 90 to the children. and oc-
casionally, when one chief wants to
Propitiate another. he sends an advance
guard to palaver with the person, to
whom they make such presents rs half
. dozen lO-cent toy revolvers, few tin
dogs and cats and a baseball mask.
All goods for the African trade must DO
painted in gay colorS
The number Of patents covering
mechanical toys is very large. Tho
horse that trots around the table with
red wagon and . driver whipping
him at every jump 10 covered with three
patents that yield remunerative royal
ties. At present . large percentage OF
the business is in toy pistols for tho
Fourth of July. In fact. the pistol 10
the staple article Of the trade. The
old-time fire-arm that shot . blank
cartridge has been driven out Of the
market by pistol or . self-cocking re-
vOlver that shoots q paper cap. Brass
cannons made with IS great care to
provide against flaws as piece Of war
ordnance, sell 1t from q to go each.
and mortars that shoot a wooden ball
high in the air with q loud report. are
among the novelties. Baseball goods
for boys are now made by automatic
machinery, and mask. which formerly
cost lad Is cents. can be bought for
25. Curious mechanical toys of figures
going through the motion Of playing
base ball. and negro fighting an
Irishman. sell at from SS to Is, and .
new one representing drunken man
trying to unlock his front door with
latch key. while his wife stands at an
upper window and angrily wags her
jaw. is soli largely for saloons. II a
boy is rich enough to spend from $40
to tS5 he can get . splendid
locomotive that runs by steam on .
circular track for an hour and q half
It has tubular boiler. the heat is en-
gendered by an alcohol lamp with half
a-dozen wicks. and a too-heavy load Of
steam is relieved by safety-valve. The
most novel piece Of rolling stock now
sold is locomotive that runs by clock
work around the table. Suddenly a
little bomb inside is bursted, springs
hy out and the engine is knocked to
pieces. Tho exploding locomotive is
almost equaled. in the boys estimation.
nv one that smokes a cigarette in its
stack and puffs out the smoke IS it runs.
Agreat many people make living
by manufacturing toys in New York.
A score Of Italians make pin wheels 1t
gay colors which they sell on the streets
at five cents apiece. Their best patrons
are the rich youngsters who promenade
Fifth avenue. The most artistically
made play things sold in the city are
miniature yachts manufactured by a
model maker on One Hundred and
Tenth street He makes full-rigged
little crafts Of approved models. correct
In all their details and warranted to
sail as well as full-sized yacht Boys
who have go to $50 to spend on such
a play thing patronize the model maker.
IN. T. Cor. Denver Republican.